Fleet Management

ACT Research: Fleets Return to Trailer Orderboard in April

Fleets started ordering more trailers in April, following recent lackluster performance, although the gains were not universal across all trailer categories, according to ACT Research Co.'s State of the Industry: U.S. Trailers.

"The industry booked 22,017 net orders in April," says Frank Maly, director-CV transportation with ACT Research. "While that was a 12.3% month-over-month increase, the widely ranging performance across the various trailer types was striking. Dry vans supported the total industry with a 41.9% month-over-month gain, while reefer vans posted a 33.7% month-over-month decline. The reefer weakness was entirely from weak new orders, as cancellations were insignificant."